Diaphragm for water closets



J ly 31, W. J. BAUMBACH DIAPHRAGM FOR WATER CLOSETS Filed March 22, 1957 William J. Baumbach INVENTOR.

States This invention relates ingeneral to new and useful improvements in plumbing accessories, and more particularly to a diaphragm for use in connection with water closets to prevent back-flow therethrough.

Many of the detergents which are now used by the average housewife in connection with washing clothes, dishes, etc., are of such' a nature whereby after being used and passed down into the sewer pipes of a home or apartment house, they remain within the sewer pipe in the form of foam. As a result, when large quantities of water pass down into the sewer pipe, such as when a Water closet is used, the foam of the detergent momentarily blocks the flow of the water through the sewer pipes and thus causes a back pressure within the sewer pipes. This back pressure is normally sufiicient to force the water seal in the traps of water closets on the lower floors, particularly those in basements and cause the back flow of sewer gases and in many instances the water from the sewer pipes. This is an obvious undesirable condition which must be rectified.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a diaphragm which may be mounted within the pipe fitting for a water closet at the connection thereof to the water closet, the diaphragm being of a one-way type and being operable in response to the existence of water within the diaphragm from its associated water closet, and being normally closed so as to resist the backflow of water and sewer gases under pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved diaphragm for use in connection with water closets, the diaphragm being intended to be placed in the mounting fitting of the piping of a house or apartment for a water closet and including a base in the form of a mounting flange, there depending from the base a conical valve portion which is normally closed, the valve portion having formed integral therewith a plurality of radiating pairs of lips which arernormally sealed, the lips being separable by the existence of Water within the conical valve portion so as to permit the free flow of water through the diaphragm, the lips being normally closed and being sealed by pressure on the exterior thereof caused by back-flow in the piping of the house or apartment building.

A further object of this invention is to provide a diaphragm for use in connection with water closets to prevent the back-flow of sewer gases and water therethrough, the diaphragm including a base in the form of a mounting flange, there being formed integral with the base a depending conical valve portion, the valve portion having formed integral therewith a plurality of pairs of radiating lips which are normally disposed in face-to-face sealed relation, the lips having spirally formed lower portions which are engageable by back-flowing gases and water so as to twist the lips about the axis of the conical valve portion so as to more effectively seal the lips and the conical valve portion.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein-like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of .a conventional type of water closet with the lower portion thereof being broken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the details of the connection between the water 3,M7,fil3 Patented July 31,1962

closet and the pipe fitting therefor, there being disposed within the pipe fitting and between the water closet and the pipe fitting the diaphragm;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the diaphragm;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the diaphragm; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and shows specific construction of the diaphragm.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a diaphragm which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 19. The diaphragm it! includes a relatively thick base in the form of an annular mounting flange 12;. Depending from the inner part of the mounting flange 12 is a conical valve portion 14. It will be noted that the conical valve portion 14 is of a lesser thickness than the base 12 although under certain circumstances the two may be of the same thickness.- The conical valve portion 14 is inverted and is normally closed so as to prevent the back flow of sewer gases and water therethrough.

Formed integral with the conical valve portion 14 and extending radially outwardly therefrom is a plurality of pairs of lips 16. The lips 16 extend from a point adjacent the mounting flange 12 to a point spaced well below the lower end of the conical valve portion 14. Inasmuch as the lips 16 are actually folded continuations of the material which form the conical valve portion 14, it will be seen that when the lips 16 are separated, the lower part of the conical valve portion l4opens to permit the downward flow of water and sewage therethrough. Thus the existence of the diaphragm 10 within the plumbing fitting for a water closet will not prevent the natural flow of sewage from the water closet.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in particular, it will be seen that the lower portions of the lips 16 are spirally arranged and that the lips 16 have their lower portions rotated approximately 45 from their upper portions. By so spirally arranging the lips 16, when sewer gases and sewage flow backwardly against the exterior of the diaphragm 1B, the lips 16 are rotated by the back pressure and are more effectively sealed thus preventing the back passage of sewer gases and sewage through the diaphragm iii.

In order to resist the corrosion and other action of the sewage normally found in connection with water closets, it is desired that the diaphragm 10 be formed of a suit able non-corrosive material, such as natural rubber or plastics. On the other hand, in order that the diaphragm it) may properly function, it is necessary that the rubber or plastic be very resilient so that only several inches of water within the diaphragm will be sulficient to open the lips 16 and the conical valve portion to permit the flow of water therethrough. However, any materials having the necessary resilient and anti-corrosive qualities may be used.

In order that a water closet may be properly mounted, the mounting flange 12 is provided with suitable apertures 18 for the reception of the normal bolts which are used to secure water closet in place. Also, in order that the mounting flange 12 may have suflicient rigidity, it is provided with a reinforcing. The reinforcing illustrated is in the form of a ring 20. However, other types of reinforcing, including a mesh reinforcing may be used.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a water closet 22. The water closet 2.2 is mounted on a suitable base 24, such as the floor of a bathroom. Mounted Within the floor 24 is a fitting 26 which includes an upper mounting flange 28 for the water closet 22. The diaphragm It is mounted 7 principles. of the invention.

Within the upper part of the fitting 26 with the flange 12 overlying the mounting flange 28 and being disposed between the base part 30 of the water closet 22 and the From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been disclosed a diaphragm which may be conveniently positioned within the upper part of a plumbing fitting for a water closet and which when positioned Within the fitting efiects a desired seal against back-flow of sewer gases and sewage and at the same time permits the normal flow of sewage from the water closet through the fitting. Also, the construction of the diaphragm is such that it may be conveniently mounted for both new installations and old installations without any changes whatsoever to either the water closet or its fitting.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 1 1. A diaphragm for use With'wa ter closets to prevent back flow therethrough, said diaphragm comprising a base in the form of a mounting flange for positioning between the base of a toilet fixture and'a pipe coupling upon which the fixture is mounted, a normally closed conical valve portion depending from said base, said conical valve portion being divided into a plurality of individual circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extending segments, said conical valve portion having formed integral therewith a plurality of radiating pairs of lips, said lips being disposed at edges of said segments, lips of each pair of lips being integrally connected together remote from said segments along a line parallel to theaxis of said conical valve portion and normally being in contact with each other to seal said conical valve portion, said: conical valve portion of said lips being formed of resilient material whereby said lips are separable in response to water disposed Within said conical valve portion to open said conical valve portion and permit escape of Further, since numerous water through said conical valve portion, said lips having spirally formed lower portions whereby back pressure of liquid upon said conical valve portion and said lips effects a tighter closing of said conical valve portion of said lips, said lips projecting downwardly below said conical valve portion, said lips being generally triangular in elevation and terminating at their upper ends adjacent said base. i

2. A diaphragm for use with water closets to prevent back flow therethrough, said diaphragm comprising a base in the form of a mounting flange for positioning between the base of a toilet fixture and a pipe coupling upon which the fixture is mounted, a normally closed conical valve portion depending from said base, said conical valve portion being divided into a plurality of individual segmerits, said conical valve portion having formed integral therewith a plurality of radiating pairs of lips, said lips being disposed at edges of said segments, lips of each pair of lips being integrally connected together remote material whereby said lips are separable in response .to

Water disposed Within said conical valve portion to open said conical valve portion and permit escape of water through said conical valve portion, said lips having spirally formed lower portions whereby back pressure of liquid upon said conical valve portion and said lips' effects a i tighter closing of said conical valve portion of said lips, said lips projecting downwardly below said conical valve portion, said lips being generally triangular in elevation and terminating at their upper ends adjacent said base, those portions of said lips disposed below said conical valve member being disposed in intersecting relation, ad-

jacent lips of adjacent pairs of lips being integrally connected together at their points of intersection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

